The Playlist: New Stuff

“Hey Graham, why are all your music columns about people too old to eat solid food? Are you not aware that music exists after 1985? Are you not ‘with it’?” – The Star’s education reporter, Cherish Wilson

Okay, so maybe that’s not an exact quote. But it was implied.

To redeem myself, I thought I would spend this week focusing on some recent songs that have been getting the replay treatment on my iPod. And by recent, I mean from this year.

I call this edition ‘What the Kids are Listening to.’ Read, enjoy, and learn something.


Nelly Furtado
Song: Say It Right (2007)
Album: Loose



What a difference a year makes. Up until 2006, Furtado was a singer-songwriter lost in the mix somewhere between Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton. And then she let hit-maker Timbaland produce her third album, ‘Loose.’ Fast forward to today and ‘Loose’ – influenced by R&B, hip hop, rock and a 1980s style – has sold 8 million copies worldwide and produced five hit singles, including this track released back in January. Some may criticize the change in Furtado’s image since 2001’s ‘Whoa, Nelly!’ but there’s no arguing the success she’s enjoyed as a result. And as a side note, I'm trying to get Timbaland to produce my album too...whenever I get around to having musical talent.


Kanye West
Song: Stronger (2007)
Album: Graduation



Did Kanye have a career and hit song before Hurricane Katrina? Yes. But did the world really take notice of him before he used a Katrina relief telethon to claim President Bush doesn’t care about black people? Say what you will about his controversial views, the man certainly knows how to voice his opinion when the opportunity arises. Not too many people can make Austin Powers speechless. Now that he’s involved in a feud with fellow rapper 50 Cent, it should be interesting to see which of the two Suge Knight puts a hit out on.


Feist
Song: 1234 (2007)
Album: The Reminder





Have you recently bought one of those new colored iPod Nanos? You can thank this song, used in the commercial, for brainwashing you. And Feist can thank the commercials for turning her song into a surprise hit. ‘1234’ has also been used in recent TV advertising for HBO, Urban Outfitters, eBay and the Lifetime Network. Other singles by the Canadian indie singer-songwriter are being used by Lacoste perfume and Verizon Wireless.


Rihanna
Song: Umbrella (2007)
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad



Thanks to the year’s biggest song to date, it’s hard for me to hear someone say ‘umbrella’ without adding my own “ella, ella – eh, eh, eh” to the mix. I might need counseling. The popularity of the song not only sent it to the top of the US charts but also simultaneously made it the No. 1 song in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Slovakia, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Austria, Spain, Belgian, Norway and Switzerland. And to top it off, led to Rihanna selling her own brand of umbrellas through her Web site. Let’s see if we can start a trend on songs about inanimate objects. Maybe next year’s top song will be ‘Toaster,’ or ‘Lamp,’ or maybe ‘Trash Can.’


Linkin Park
Song: What I’ve Done (2007)
Album: Minutes to Midnight





I watch a lot of movies. And one of the criteria I judge a movie on is how it ends. Some may not have liked this summer’s ‘Transformers,’ especially those that grew up with the cartoon, but I’m giving it a thumbs up in part because of its ending. Optimus Prime - eighteen-wheeler by day, superhero by night - gives his little narration about protecting Earth as this song slowly builds in the background and then bursts free as the end credits appear. Badass. Plus, the opening seconds of the song blatantly ‘borrow’ from the theme song of John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween.’ That alone gets kudos in my book.

How's that for being 'with it?'

There’s my list - what’s yours? Shoot me an e-mail at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com and it might end up featured in a future column.